Apparatus for dispensing gummed tape



Ma-y 13, 1941.

R. E. ENGBERG APPARATUS FOR DISPIEINSINGv GUMMED TAPE Filed sept. 15, 1938 5 sheets-s116911 Y :inventor (Ittomeg May 13, 1941.

R. E. ENGYBERG APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GUMMED TAPE Filed Sept. 15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheeft 2 //////////////////////,///F WW/lw w www,

nventor May 13, 1941.

R E. ENGBl-:RG

APPARATUS FOR DIS}?F.|N SIN(.r GUMMED TAPE -5 'Sheets-Sheet l3 Filed Sept. 15, 1938 mw @bw hw I man@ mm, wm N., g

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May 13, 1941. R E, ENGBERG v 2,241,658

APPARATUs Fon DI-SPENSINGGUMMED TAPE Filed sept. 15, 1958 'sneets-sheetfz lll May 13, l.941- I R. E. ENGBERG 2,241,658v

APPARATUS FOR DlSPENSING GUMMED TAPE FiledSept. .15, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 srAT-Es- PATENT APPARATUS ronDIsPENsING GUMMED TAPE Ralph E. Engberg, Geneva, N. Y. Application September 15, 1938, Serial No. 229,999 2 Claims. `(Cl. 164-43) My invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for dispensing gummed tape.

It is particularly wen adapted for feeding and I dispensing in severed portions, in predetermined lengths, of gummed tape of a character that does not require moistening to make it adhere, one type of tape of this character being known in the market as Scotch tape.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a novel method of dispensing the tape causing it to adhere to carriers spaced apart one in front of the other, and advancingy the carriers simultaneously along an orbit past a point of delivery, and detaching the tape successively from the carriers at the point of delivery, the carriers after detachment while traveling in their orbit reengaging a following portion of the tape.

My improved method further provides for the severing successively into predetermined lengths of the advance portions of the tape that is being fed.

A further object of my mention is' the provision of a novel apparatus by which my improved method is brought into effect, which apparatus includes an endless traveling belt having novel means for adhesively engaging and propelling to a point of delivery a strip of gummed tape, drawn, as it is propelled, from a roll.

My improved apparatus further provides novel means by which the tape propelling belt is driven step by step in consecutive feeding movements a predetermined distance at each step.

My invention has another object in the provision'of novel means for adjustably controlling the belt driving means by which the advance of the belt at each step maybe varied as to dis-l tance.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for severing the advance portions of the tape from that following.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a novel apparatus of the kind described, which is relatively simple, which can be economically manufactured and operated, which is durable, and not likely to get out of order, and which is efficient in operation.

The novel features of my invention are here- -inafter fully described'and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my improved apparatus,v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 lis a reduced side elevationof lthe same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the knife guard engaged with one side of a blade, while the knife has severed the tape.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the knife guard engaged with the other side ofA a blade prior to the knife engaging the tape.

the knife as fully depressed and about to be ree leased. e

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View of the apparatus, parts being broken away and some omitted, and showingthe knife prior to its depression. v

Fig. 7' is a fragmental view showing the parts in plan and others partly broken away and some omitted, and showing portions of the belt driving mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal v'iew of a portion of the apparatus, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, parts being broken away and other parts omitted, and showing the knife in the tape severing position.

Fig. 9 is a. fragmental view partly in transverse vertical section and partly in elevation, parts being broken awayand parts omitted, and showing the,

knife and its operating mechanism prior to the knife being depressed before a tape` cutting op- 1 t the front, partly in rear elevation, and partly in transverse vertical section, parts being broken away and parts omitted, and showing the slidable knife depressing mechanism, as depressed and as having released the knife operating lever,

,and the latter and the knife in the uppermost cutting position.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the 'line I2|2 of Fig. '7, showing the clutch mechanism forming part of the belt driving mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a. vertical section on the plane of the line |3-I3 of Fig.- 12, showing the interior of the clutch.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the knife and its operating lever, part of the base being shown in vertical section and the knife in the uppermost cutting position. A

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the knife blad'e.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views'. y

The apparatus is provided with an enclosing casing having a base to the rear end of which is hinged at 2 a box like cover 3, the front end of which has a catch 4 adapt-ed to releasably enj gage a st'ud 5 projecting forwardly from the front A edge of the base I, Figs. 1 and 2. 1

The base I has extending upwardly from its front edge a wall 6, which partly closes a front some of upper end of the front wall 8 is upwardly and forwardly curved and is disposed at the point of delivery of the gummed tape 8, the upper end of the opening 1 serving as a discharge opening for the tape, Figs. 1, and 6.

The'gummed tape 8 is, preferably, of a type having a gummed side of a character that will adhere Without moistening to metal. A gummed tape of this character is commercially known as Scotch tape. 'I'he tape to be used is Wound to form a roll 9, having the gummed side in, the roll 9 being mounted on a drum IIJ having an axial shaft I0 removably rotatably mounted in notches II in the upper ends of the arms of a U shaped support I2, the transverse part of which is fastened to the upper side of the base I adjacent to the rear end thereof, Figs. 5 and 6.

For feeding the tape 8 forwardly from the roll 9, a carrying device is provided having carriers which are adapted to adhesively engage. the gummed side of the tape 8 and propel it forwardly to the point of delivery comprising the part of the opening 1 above the front Wall 6. These carriers are spaced apart one in front of the other and travel in the sam-e path along a common orbit, and, in the form shown, comprise transverse blades I3, provided on the periphery of an endless belt consisting of two parallel endless link belt sections I4, the blades I3 being rigidly fastened at their inner edges to the outer edges respectively of the links of the belt sections I4, Figs. 1, 5, 6, 8 and 11.

The link belt sections I4 are mounted on two rotary toothed drums I5 and I6, the drum I5 of the larger diameter, being located forward of the drum I0, and the drum I6, of much smaller diameter, being located forward of and higher than the drum I5, and at the rear of and closely adjacent to the upper end of the front wall 6,V

Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 8.

The larger drum I5 is rigidly fastened on a transverse axial shaft I1 rotatably mounted in the two side walls I8 and I9 of a U shaped sheet metal support, the transverse part of which is fastened to the top of the base -I between the the front wall 6 and the support I2, which supports the roll carrying drum I0.

The smaller drum I6 is rotatably mounted on a transverse shaft 2| provided in its ends respectively with axial holes in which are fitted two screws 22 and 23. The end portions of the shaft 2| are respectively forwardly and rearwardly adjustablein two longitudinal slots 24 and 25,

respectively provided in the side walls I8 and I9. The heads of the screws 22 and 23 respectively bear against washers 2liv and 21, which, when the screws 22 and 23 are tightened, clamp against the outer sides respectively of the side walls I8 and I9, thus holding the shaft 2| in the position to which it may be adjusted, for properly tightening the link belt sections I4.

The larger drum I5 has at its lends two annular rows of cogs 28 which respectively engage and drive the link belt sections I4, when the drum shaft I1 is rotated. The smaller drum I6 has at its ends two annular rows of cogs 29, which engage the link belt sections I4 whereby the drum I6 is rotated, when the drum I5 drives the link belt sections I4, to propel forwardly the tape 8 by means of the blades I3 which have their outer edges in adhesive engagement with the gummed side of the tape 8, Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11. For rotating the shaft I1 of the larger drum I5 in the proper direction, it has fastened rigidly which bears against a lever 4| l opening 1 in the front wall of the cover 3. The

on it a pinion 30, Fig. 7, which meshes with a spur gear wheel 3 I, which is driven in step by step movements consecutively by a clutch, shown in Figs. 12 and 13, that permits the gear 3| to freely revolve in the proper feeding direction, but

which prevents it from reversely turning.

f 31 keyed on a transverse rock shaft 38 oscillatively mounted in the side wall I9 and a wall 39 extending upwardly from the transverse part 20, Figs. 6, '1, 12 and 13.

For holding the rock shaft 38 from endwise movement it has in its inner end a threaded hole in which is fitted a screw 40, the head of which bears against the outer side of the wall 39. A collar 42 fastened on the rock shaft 38 bears against the outer side of the side wall I9.

The cam surfaces 38 form with the inner wall of the gear wheel 3| outwardly converging recesses 43, in which the three rollers 35 are normally respectively forced outwardly into holding engagement With the inner Wall of the gear 3|, by three coil springs 44 mounted respectively in three holes in the clutch member 31.

When the rock shaft 38 is turned clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 13, the rollers 35 will lockingly engage the gear 3| and turn it in a like direction, thus forwardly propelling the tape 8 by means of the blades I3 engaged therewith, the link belt sections I4, the larger drumI5, the shaft I1 and the pinion 20 engaged with the gear 3|.

For rocking the rock shaft 38 to consecutively properly rotate the gear 3| step by step by means of the clutch, just above described, there is provided an oscillative lever 45, which is rigidly fastened to the rock shaft 38, at the outer side of the cover 3, and which extends forwardly and upwardly, normally, from the rock shaft 38. The rock shaft 38 extends through a slot 46, which extends upwardly from the lower edge of the adjacent side of the cover 3, and which slot permits the cover 3 being swung upwardly from its closed position, shown in Fig. 2.

'I'he lever 4I, which is rigidly fastened tothe inner end of the rock shaft 38, extends rearwardly therefrom, and has fastened to its rear end the upper end of a coil spring 41, the lower end of which is fastened to an angle plate 48 fastened to the top of the base I, Fig, 6. .This spring 41 normally swings the lever 4I downwardly, thus, through the rock shaft 38 swinging the lever 45 to the upper position, shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

To drive the tape advancing belt so as to feed the tape I8 forwardly, the lever 45 is depressed, and the distance that it is depressed determines the distance that the tape 8 is advanced at a step. For adjustably regulating the distance that the lever 45 can be depressed, there is provided a transverse stop bar 49, Figs. 1, 2, 7, 9,.10 and 11, which extends througha slot 50 that extends upwardly from the lower edge of the right hand side wall of the cover 3.

The stop bar 49 has adjacent to its inner end a diamond shaped portion 5I the front and rear ends of which are adapted to be fitted in opposite pairs of notches 52 provided in opposite edges of a. vertical slot 53 in the vertical outer portion 54of a plate, which portion is vertically slidable again-st the inner side of the side wall I9, against which it is held by screws 55 extending through slots 56 in the side wall I9.

A vertical coil spring 51 has its upper end fastened to a projection 58 on the inner side of the wall I9, the lower end of the spring being fastened to a hook 59 on the portion 54 of the slidable plate. The tension of the spring 51 normally forces the plate portion 54 upwardly against the projection 58, Figs. and 11.`

The operating hand lever 45 whendepressed strikes the stop bar 49, and forces the latter with the plate portion 54 downwardly until the latter is stopped by the screws 55 reach the lower ends of the slots 56, when the depression of the lever ceases. By adjusting the stop bar in different pairs of the notches 52, the distance of depression of the operating lever 45 may be varied to suit the distance that it is desired to feed the tape 8 step by step.

For pressing the tape 8'against the blades I3, a fiat spring 68 is fastened at one end to the top of the base I, and the upper side of-the front portion of the spring .bears against the under side of the tape 8, Figs. 5, 6 and 8.

As the drum I6 is much smaller in diameter than the drum I5, when the blades I3 consecutively reach the point of delivery ofthe tape, at the rear o-f the upper end of the front wall 6, the blades will each spread apart from the one next following, thereby causing the spread blade to detach itself from the tape, which then passes out of the discharge opening 1 above the wall 6, Figs. 5, 6 and 8. f

For severing the tape 8 between two of the blades I3 after each step of advancement of the tapehas been completed, there is provided a knife having a cutting blade 6I, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14 and 15, having a forwardly converging cutting edge, the' blade beingfastened' by screws 62 to the transverse portion 63 of a U- shaped support, the arms 64 of which are pivoted to two projections 65 extending upwardly from the plate portion `2li under the drum I5.

The projections 65 are so disposed that, when the arms 64 are swung upwardly until their curved upper edges strike the under side of the tape 8, as shown in Fig. 8, the blade 6I'will pass 'through and sever the tape 8 between the two next adjacent blades I3.

When the knife is depressed and then released suddenly, it will be swung upwardly to the cutting position, shownI in Fig. 8, by a coil spring 66, the upper end of which bears against'the under side of an -arm' 61 extending rearwardly from the transverse portion 63 of the blade support, the lower end of the spring 66 encircling a. screw 68 the head of which bears on a washer 69, which supports the lower end of the spring 66.

For depressing and then releasing the U- shaped support 63-64 of the cutting blade, one

' of the arms 64, Fig. 8, is provided with a slot 10 through which extends a screw 1I mounted in the forward end of a forwardly and rearwardly extending lever 12, the rear end of which is pivoted to an angle plate .13 fastened to the top of the plate 20, Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 14.

The vertically slidable plate 54 has extending upwardly from its lower end an arm 14, Figs. 9 and 11, the upper end of the arm being fastened to the upper end of 'the plate 54 by a screw 15, Figs. 10 and 11. The arm 14 has fastened to it a. hinge member 16, to which is pivoted by a pintle 11 the upper end of a pawl 18, Figs. 9 and 11, which has a tooth 19 which normallyengages the upper edge of the lever 12;

When the operating lever 45 is depressed and engages the stop bar 49 which depresses the plate 54, the arm 14 will also be depressed, and will cause the pawl 18 to swing downwardly the levery 12, thus depressing the knife support 63-'- 64, and compressing the coil spring 66. Before the arm 14 reaches the endof its down stroke, the pawl 18 will engage the outer inclined edge of a projection 8D on the plate 2G, and will be detached from the lever 12, which will be released from the pawl 18.

The compressed coil spring 66 will then suddenly swing upwardly the knife support 63-64 causing the cutting blade 6I to sever the tape, as shown in Fig. 8.

To prevent the cutting blade 6I having its cutting edge strike one of the tape feeding blades I3, during a tape cutting operatlonone of the arms 64 of the knife support has fastened to itby screws 8|, Fig. 5, a guard plate 82, having two slots 83 through which the screws 8i 1 extend. The guard plate 82 has at its upper and forward end an angular tooth 84, which projectsbeyond the cutting edge of the blade 6I,

and is adapted to engage a blade I3 at either side, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thus pushing the blade struck out of the path of the cutting blade 6I. By loosening the screws l83, the guard 82 may be adjusted.l

After the knife has out the tape it will resume its normal position, shown in Fig. 6, its position, when the spring 66 is compressed, being shown in Fig. 5, and its cutting position being shown l in Figs. 3 and 8.

' the tape, as it is advanced, consecutively de" taches from the blades I3.

When the operating lever 45 is again depressed, the belt having the blades I3 will be again advancedfas has been described, and the tape 8 will again be' advanced a step, and another length thereof will be severed from that following. The length of tape which has previously been severed, will be advanced by the blades I3 to which it is still attached, and will finally be freed from all but one of these blades, as has been described. The operator by then pulling on the advanced severed portion will detach it from the blade to which it has still adhered. I

When it is desired to change the distance the tape is fed at each step, to a shorter distance, the stop bar 49 has its diamond shaped portion 5I withdrawn from the notches 52 in which the portion 5I has been disposed. The portion 5i is then inserted into two notches 52 that are higher. The stop bar 49 is retained in its adjusted position by means of a nut on the threaded inner end of the stop, bar 49, said nut bearing against the inner end of the diamond shaped portion 5l and against the inner side of the platev 54, the stop bar 49 having a sliding `rliearing against the outer side of the side wall From the foregoing description, it will be understood that upon the depression of the lever 45, the rock shaft 38 through the clutch will vturn the gear 3|, thereby, through the pinion 38, revolving the shaft I1, which in turn drives the endlessY belt, which, through the blades I3 feeds the tape 8 to the discharge opening, where When the lever 45 is depressed, it strikes the stop bar v49 which is depressed with the lever 45, thereby depressing the slide plate 54 and with it the pawl 'I8, the latter swinging the lever 'I2 downwardly, thus swinging downwardly the knife which, in turn, compresses the coil spring 66. When the pawl I8 in its downward movement engages the inclined edge of the projection 80, the latter will detach the pawl tooth I9 from the lever l2, upon which the compressed spring 6 6 will swing upwardly the cutting blade support 63-64, which will carry the blade 6| to the tape severing position between two of the blades I3.

When the stop bar 49 has forced the plate 54 to' its lowermost position, the downward movement of the operating lever 45 will cease, and the latter on being released will be upwardly retracted to its normal uppermost position, by means of the coil spring 4l.

If at any time it is desired to feed longer lengths-of tape than the stop bar 49 is set for, this may be eiected by successively oscillating the lever 45 without depressing it sufiiciently to operate the knife.

As will be seen in Fig. 5, the tape 8, as it is fed forwardly by the blades I3, will peel from the roll 9, and the blades I3 in traveling along their orbit will, after their detachment from the tape at the point of delivery, adhesively reengage following portions of the tape.

When a roll of tape has been fed from the apparatus, the catch 4 is released from the stud 5, and the cover 3 swung upwardly and rearwardly to the open position. The drum I0, with its shaft I' is then removed and another tape roll 9 mounted on the drum. The drum I0 is then replaced in its operative position'on the support, following which a portion of the tape 8 is withdrawn from the roll 9, and inserted between the spring plate 60 and the adjacent blades I3, the outer edges of which adhesively engage the gummed side of the tape 8. The tape 8 is then fed forwardly by consecutive steps, and the advance portions severed, between the steps, from that following, in the manner hereinbefore described.

For holding the severed portion of the tape 8 against the rearmost blade I3, to which it is attached, while the blade I3 next forward is spreading apart from said rearmost one, there is provided a curved spring plate 86, Fig. 5, and Fig, 6, which is-fastened at its lower end to the rear side of the front wall 6 and extending u pwardly to the curved upper end of said wall, and which tightly presses the tape 8 against the blades I3 as the latter consecutively near the upper end of the wall 6. By this means, as the It will be noted that' the length of the spring 66 is such that after it has been compressed, as shown in Fig. 5, and then has expanded, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11, to force the knife blade 6I through the tape 8, it will contract, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, to permit the knife to retract, after cutting the tape. to a normal position, in which the'blade 6I will clear the tape, and the pawl I8 will again have its tooth I9 engage the upper edge of the lever 12, which will be effected by'the gravity of the pawl, the spring 51 having lifted the plate 54-14, and with it the pawl 'I8 to permit of such engagement. By utilizing only the adhesiveness of the gummed tape, after it has been stuck to one or more of the carrier blades I3. for effecting its driving engagement with said blades, a relatively simple structure is provided for feeding the tape, which is particularly adapted for the proper feeding of tape of the Scotch" type, that does not require moistening to make it adhere, and which eliminates much auxiliary means usually required to make the tape carriers have driving engagement with the tape, and which improved structure feeds the tape accurately and without slippage. One object in having the severed forward portions of. the tape made to adhere to the blades I3 after being severed, is to keep short severed pieces of the tape under Icontrol until after they have reached the place of discharge and are ready to be automatically detached from the blades. Thus by adjusting the stroke of the vfeeding lever 45, pieces of tape Many modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: v

1. In an apparatus for feeding gummed tape, which adheres without moistening, the combination with means for feeding the tape which means includes an endless belt having around its periphery transverse spaced apart blades to the outer edges of which the gummed side of the tape blades I3 consecutively arrive ai; the place where they spread at their outer edges from those following, the tape will be detached from the spreading blades.

As is shown in Fig.l 7, the drum I5 is composed of two end halves, which respectively abut against the hub of the pinion 3D and the side wall I8, two screws 81 in the said halves tightly engaging the shaft Il, the end of which adjacent to the side wall I8 has an axial threaded hole in which is fitted a screw 88, which engages the outer side of the side wall I8, and holds vthe shaft I'I from endwise movement toward the side wall I9.

As shown in Fig. 9, and in Fig. 15, the knife bladeSI has two slots 89 transverse to the length of the blade, and through which slots the screws 62 extend respectively. This construction permits the blade 6I to be adjusted toward and from the tape 8.

is adapted to adhere without moistening, said means utilizing only the adhesiveness of the gum for driving engagement of the tape with said blades, means for driving said belt in one direction, means for engaging following portions of the tape with said blades as the latter travel in an orbit, means for detaching the tape from each of said blades when the blade reaches a predetermined point ahead, and means for severing the tape at the rear of and spaced from said point.

2. In an apparatus for feeding gummed tape which adheres without moistening, the combination with means for feeding the tape which means includes an endless belt having around its periphery transverse spaced apart blades to the outer edges of which the gummed side of the tape Asevering forward end portions from the following portions of the tape.

RALPH E. ENGBERG. 

